"I met the surgeon general - he offered me a cigarette"

This quote by Rodney Dangerfield is a humorous take on the paradox of the Surgeon General, who is accountable for promoting public health, offering somebody a cigarette. It suggests that the Surgeon General is not taking his own advice and is rather participating in an unhealthy practice. The quote also implies that the Surgeon General is not taking his task seriously and is not measuring up to the expectations of his position. It is a humorous way of explaining the hypocrisy of the Surgeon General and the lack of seriousness with which he takes his job. The quote is a lighthearted method of poking fun at the Surgeon General and the lack of severity with which he takes his task.